Wax Paper vs. Parchment Paper

Many many decades wax paper was used for home cooking and baking. Higher cost parchment paper was primarily used by professional chefs and balers.

Today, rolls and sheets of parchment paper are available in most stores or can be ordered online.

Both have advantages and disadvantages. One disadvantage is the higher cost of parchment paper. But unlike wax paper, parchment paper can be reused for some applications like baking cookies.

In fact, many brands of wax paper now come with a warning to not use for high heat applications like baking cookies and cakes.

This video shares:

• What is wax paper? 00:34
• What is parchment paper? 1:07
• Wax and parchment paper differences. 1:55
• Wax paper advantages and disadvantages. 5:34
• Parchment advantages and disadvantages. 6:19

Reclining Big-Toe Hold

Reclining Big Toe Hold stretches your leg and arm muscles. This is a moderately difficult pose and can be challenging if you have limited arm and leg flexibility.

If you you do not have the flexibility to keep your leg and arm straight, use a strap. Place the soul of your foot against a strap and lift your leg, using one hand, keeping your arm and leg straight as high as comfortably possible. Your leg and arm flexibility will increase with time and practice.

Do not worry if using a strap is the only way you can do Reclining Big Toe Hold. There are many yoga poses that are beyond the limits of some people. I know from personal experience.

English Name: Reclining Big Toe Hold

Sanskrit Name: Supta Padangusthasana

Difficulty Level: 5

Start Position: Reclining on your back

Instructions:

Step 1.

Bend your right knee and curl your first two fingers of your right hand around your big toe.

Step 2.

Rest your left hand on your left leg. Straighten your right leg upward towards your head.

Step 3.

Hold the pose for several breathes or as long as it feels comfortable.

Step 4.

Release and repeat on the other side.

Physical Benefits:

  • Stretches & maintains hip flexibility
  • Stretches wrists, arms, and legs
  • Opens up the chest
  • Improves lung capacity
  • Helps pituitary and thyroid function
  • Reduces fatigue

Mental Benefits

  • Reduces stress
  • Calms the mind
  • Relieves mild anxiety & depression

Contraindications:

  • Pregnancy
  • Low back or spine injury
  • Hip or shoulder injury
  • Hand injury

Big Toe Hold

Big Toe Hold is a sitting balance pose that helps improve mental focus and physical balance. Maintaining your balance is important as you age. Falls are one of the leading causes of injury and death for people over 65. Other balance poses include Boat and Half Boat, Tree, Chair, Dancer, Eagle, Warrior III, and Half Moon.

English Name: Big Toe Hold

Sanskrit Name: Ubhaya Padangusthasana

Difficulty Level: 5

Start Position: Staff

Instructions:

Step 1.

Bend your knees and curl the first two fingers of each hand around your right and left big toe.

Step 2.

Straighten your leg balancing on your sits bones.

Step 3.

Gaze at your big toes.

Step 4.

Hold the pose for a few breaths or as long as it feels comfortable. Release and return to Staff pose. Repeat if desired.

Physical Benefits:

  • Increase core strength
  • Increases flexibility
  • Opens up the chest
  • Improves digestions
  • Strengthens legs, arm, hips, abdomen, and arms
  • Improves posture

Mental Benefits

  • Increases focus
  • Improves concentration
  • Relieves mild anxiety & depression

Contraindications:

  • Painfull coxics
  • Pregnancy (3rd trimester)
  • Low back pain
  • Arm, leg, or shoulder injury

Understanding & Using Nutrition Facts Labels

How to use nutrition facts labels to make healthy food choices and avoid food manufacturers attempts to make some prepared foods appear healthier than they really are.

In this video:

• Why have nutrition facts labels?
• Why you should use nutrition labels.
• Differences between 2006 & 2016 labels.
• Who determines what nutrition information is included?
• Manipulating serving sizes and nutrition information.
• The consumers need to know.

Wheat Facts & Myths

Many low carb diets ban wheat and foods made with wheat or wheat flour for a variety of reasons. Most are not supported by current research.

This video shares some common facts and myths about wheat and foods made with wheat.

In this video:

• What is wheat?
• A brief history of wheat.
• Refined vs. whole wheat.
• Reasons to avoid wheat.
• Symptoms of wheat allergy & celiac disease.
• Is foreign grown wheat healthier than American wheat?

Bakeware and Cookware Selection & Care Part II

Selecting the right cookware and bakeware makes home cooking much more pleasurable. You do not have to spend $100’s on individual pieces or a set.

In Part II of this two part video:

• Reactive versus non-reactive.
• Oven safe.
• Cost & quality.
• Flatness
• Buy a set or individual pieces?

Bakeware and Cookware Selection & Care Part I

Selecting the right cookware and bakeware makes home cooking much more pleasurable. You do not have to spend $100’s on individual pieces or a set.

In Part I of this two part video:

• Bakeware & Cookware materials.
• 18/8 versus 18/10 stainless steel.
• Nonstick versus uncoated.
• Teflon® and PFOA health risks.

Healthy Eating On $5 A Day?

For many individuals and families, meal costs run into the $1,000 annually. A $5 or more breakfast, a $10 to $20 lunch, and a $15 or more dinner. And that is for one person. The cost or dining out and prepared foods usually goes on a credit card. Is it any wonder, many people do not have any savings?

After 5 years of producing my YouTube cooking videos, I reviewed my annual food cost. Unlike professional food photographers, the foods I prepared were all eatable after being photographed. They were foods I actually eat. My annual food costs? About $1800 or $5 a day. $5 a day for three meals and snacks.

I live in Phoenix, Arizona where food costs are moderate due to intense competition. Regardless of foods costs in your area, you can eat for a fraction of the cost of dining out. The catch? Over 95% of my meals are home cooked.

I know many people claim they do not have the time to cook or they do not want to cook. Fine. That is a decision you must make.

Considering the facts that about 70% of adult Americans are overweight or obese and that 60% of the American diet is prepared foods there appears to be cause and effect.

Also consider the fact that home cooked meals have less chemical additives than prepared foods.

This video looks at how you can slash your food budget and eat healthier.

Bharadvaja’s Twist

Bharadvaja’s Twist begins in Hero pose and works your upper and lower body. This moderately difficult pose has a number of physical and mental health benefits. Review the contraindications before doing this pose. While it may look simple, it can be challenging it you have limited range of motion or flexibility in your neck, shoulder, elbow, hips, knees and ankles.

English Name: Bharadvaja’s Twist

Sanskrit Name: Bharadvajasana

Difficulty Level: 4

Start Position: Hero

Instructions:

Step 1.

Keep your right leg in Hero pose and extend your left leg.

Step 2.

Bend your left knee and place your left foot in your right hip.

Step 3.

Holding your left foot with your left hand wrapped behind your back, twist to the left and place your right hand on your the outside of your left thigh.

Step 4.

Gaze over your left shoulder. Hold the pose for a few breaths or as long as the pose feels comfortable. Release. Return to Hero pose and repeat on the other side.

Physical Benefits:

  • Strengths back muscles
  • Improves flexibility
  • Opens up the chest
  • Improves knee, hip, and ankle health
  • Helps relieve menopausal discomfort
  • Lowers blood pressure
  • Improves digestions
  • Opens up the chest
  • Reduces low back and neck discomfort

Mental Benefits

  • Increases focus
  • Calms the mind
  • Increased mental clarity
  • Relieves mild anxiety & depression

Contraindications:

  • Knee, hip, or ankle injury
  • Headache
  • Migraine
  • Arthritis
  • Heart disease
  • Neck back injury

Is Junk Food Really Junk?

Are some foods and beverages really junk foods? What are junk foods?

All foods provide some nutrients. Some foods are more nutrient rich than others. In most case, ones overall diet and lifestyle determines whether or not they live a long, healthy life.

In this video:

• What is junk food? 00:39
• Does junk foods equal comfort foods. 1:56
• Essential versus nonessential nutrients. 3:37
• Should you avoid or ban junk foods. 5:22
• Being mindful of your diet and lifestyle. 13:22

Copyright 2012-2025 DiTuro Productions, LLC